Jordan Stewart ready to realise ‘lifelong dream’ by signing for Swindon Town on Friday morning

Jordan Stewart will finally complete his move to Swindon Town on Friday morning

Gareth Fullerton

Published:23:22Thursday 20 August 2015

Jordan Stewart will realise a “lifelong dream” when he signs professional terms with Swindon Town on Friday morning.

Glentoran agreed a fee in the region of £55,000 for the sale of their 20-year-old talisman earlier this week.

Contractual add-ons – including a sell-on clause – were finally rubber-stamped on Wednesday night, paving the way for Stewart’s transfer to the English League One club.

Stewart flew out from George Best Belfast City Airport on Thursday, but a three-hour delay prevented him from completing his deal that night.

But following what Stewart called a “brilliantly terrible” week of negotiations, the dream move is about to be realised.

“Touch wood, I am due to sign in the morning,” Stewart told the News Letter on Thursday night.

“It has been a stressful week. The deal was on, and then it was off, and then on again. It has been a brilliantly terrible few days.

“But we are almost there, and it is a dream come true for me. It is all I have ever wanted to do, but there were times when you think it will never happen.

“I just feel blessed to be in this position.”

Stewart had returned to his day job at Belfast City Hospital on Thursday morning as negotiations continued on his move to Swindon.

But it wasn’t long before he got a phone call telling him to be at the airport for a 1.15pm flight.

“I didn’t know what was happening with the talks, so I went back to work. I do pot wash and work in the dining room at the hospital,” Stewart said.

“I was then told to get to the airport for a flight which was then delayed for three hours. I just thought ‘here we go again’.

“It was too late to sign the deal today so we are due to travel to Swindon Town in the morning to complete everything.

“A lot of hard work has been put in by a lot of people to get me to this position. My agent Lee Mudd was fantastic, and also Eddie Patterson and his coaching staff at Glentoran. Their advice was invaluable. Roy Coyle also played a big part along with a number of other people. So I can’t thank them enough.”

Stewart insists the “hard work starts now”, and he is expected to join in with Swindon training on Friday.

“I want to make a mark at Swindon. I want to be a success here,” he added.

“I have got my big chance and I aim to take it. I will give it my best shot, and hopefully it is good enough.”

Glentoran chairman Stephen Henderson said: “We are disappointed to lose a player of Jordan’s calibre, but our loss is Swindon and English football’s gain.

“We wish Jordan every success in the future and we are confident he will do extremely well.”